The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1887-05-14
'rnoT eyeballs were red now, and he was

Fare? Come now, tell me your name.
The Governor made an effort to shout for
assistance, but his tongue clave to his palate
and he could not get speech.
sTell me your name," said the prisoner,
soothingly, and as he spoke he waved both
hands gently before the Governors face.
81 am Major George Alexander Fordyce.
will have you fogged to death, responded
the Governor.
"Why will you talk of fogging2" said
No. 222 with smile. ''Let us leave all
that. We must be pleasant. like your
name, but suppose l give you another.
Tut tut you must not glare at me like
that. I will make you call yourself by
whatever name / choose"
He made another pass over the Gov
ernor's face and the fury vanished from it,
but dull and sullen look came in its place.
''Sit down here upon this bucket, while
think of another name for you. So
for the Governors muscles had tugged him
down, though he resisted with the whole
force of his will. "Now let me think. l
must give you name which shall be quite
absurd and meaningless. 1t will be such
fun you know; and you shall accept it de-
lightedly. See now, I'll call you Tickletoby
the Tenth. Isn't it fun Now, once
more, what is your name p
The Governor sat silent upon the bucket,
but an expression the most piteous imagi-
nable overspread his features.
"What is your name p repeated the
prisoner.
"Don'tl" pleaded the Governor. "Any
name but that tits so very, very foolish. "
"Your name, sir, your name p said the
memorable prisoner.
"Tick No, no, please Any name
in the world but that r.
aResist me further and I will dissolve
you where you sit Now for the last tlme'
your name !"
s'Tickle-to-by the-the Tenth, muir
INJURED the Governor, from whose lips the
foolish words were wrung by the sheer will
power of the prisoner.
Two passes more and the Governor smiled
on him and pronounced the name quite
cheerfully.
"Goodr' exclaimed No. 222 II told
YOU we should be excellent friends. One
word more and l have done with you.
You are my slave at present, but in five
minutes l shall be yours. We are very
friendly now, and 1 insist that you remain
my friend in your waking state. Do you
understand me? l will it to be So"
II shall certainly remain your friend,
replied the Governor, in tone of the most
emphatic willingness.
avery good. Get off the bucket |
can't have you sitting there when you find
yourself in authority again, for you look
very ridiculous, and would wonder what
had been happening"
The Governor rose smiling, and the mo-
ment he stood on his feet he was the same
man who had entered the cell twenty
minutes earlier.
No. 222 was in a deferential attitude be-
fore him, and had, as the Governor imag-
ined, Just concluded a statement which
made it clear that he had been maliciously
accused.
His feeling toward the prisoner was
kindly, and when No. 222 asked some slight
favor of him he granted it and wished him
good night.
No. 222 went to bed and slept TRANQUILITY.
The next day he decided finally that he
would quit the prison, for despite the con-
quests he had made within its walls he was
very tired of it. In no long time he had
evolved and shaped his plan.
1t was an adroit, and even brilliant
plan. 1t fascinated the author himself.
Two whole days he dwelt upon it, pored
over it, toyed with it, and Rugged it to him
self, for the cunning of it fattered his van
ity. He felt scientific interest in it apart
from all question of its probable or possible
issue, for this plan involved the submission
of his powers to a great and decisive test.
Briefly, it is this: He was to procure his
release from prison without the lifting of a
finger or the utterance of syllable in his
own behalf.
man must be vehement and unmitigated
villain, | know he must, and jet l am
moved to write that, having fully inquired
into the circumstances of his trial and con-
viction, it has been borne in upon my mind
that he Is the victim of desperate and
dastardly conspiracy. There-don't inter
rupt me; feel sure that they were all in
league against him. The judge was his
enemy, the jury packed, the counsel was q
mere seoundreI. Oh, to think that justice
should be SO perverted in country like
ours But he shall be released, though
lose Office for it.
And the Home Secretary "a phlegmatiC
and sceptical man at most times), who now
wore the air Of person suddenly and
completely possessed, finished his letter
with an effort, and addressed the envelope
to "The Governor of II. M. Prison
at"
"Alan," he said then with forced jocu,
larity, ~ am going to give you an after
noon in the country, These foolish events
have upset you; you want breath of fresh
air, my boy. Take this letter and travel
down by the afternoon express and give it
into the Governors own hands. His
manner changed, and he added sadly
'sThis is a most deplorable business, but
feel that shall not rest till it is settled
Let me see you the moment you return. u
That afternoon, as he sat in the prison
workshop diligently stitching waistcoats, a
strange calm stole over the spirit of Priso-
ner No. 222, and in the same moment he
knew that his will had triumphed, and that
his hour of release was at hand.
Late that night Alan arrived at the
prison and demanded to see the Governor
on business of the Home Secretary. He
was shown at once into the Governors
presence and gave him the letter that he
bore.
The Governor read it and looked sur
prised, but said that he was not sorry.
The next day No. 222 was a free man.